The Center for National Defense has recently published several new reports.
"What to Expect When You're Expecting a National Defense Strategy <[link removed]>" by Thomas Spoehr, Bradley Bowman, Bryan Clark, and Mackenzie Eaglen brings together leading voices from conservative think tanks, providing ideas for how the National Defense Strategy should better secure the U.S. and its interests.
“Cybersecurity: Policymakers Need a Consistent Means to Assess Capabilities <[link removed]>” by James Di Pane explains the importance of sufficient budgets and manpower levels to meet U.S. Cyber Command’s operational demands.
“Dangerous Nuclear Policy Idea No. 4: Defunding the Nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile <[link removed]>” by Patty-Jane Geller discusses the potential role of the sea-launched cruise missile-nuclear (SLCM-N) in countering Russia’s and China’s growing nuclear forces.
“U.S. Over-the-Horizon Capability for Afghanistan <[link removed]>” by John Venable describes the limitations on over-the-horizon capabilities in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
“U.S. Coast Guard: Three Priorities for FY 2022 <[link removed]>” by James Di Pane and Chad F. Wolf discusses current opportunities for Congress to identify and meet the Coast Guard fleet’s needs, find savings for taxpayers, and improve the USCG’s readiness.
What to Expect When You're Expecting a National Defense Strategy
The new National Defense Strategy that the Biden administration is writing should reckon with the ramifications of rapidly expanding global threats. It should assess core U.S. strategic objectives and delineate the necessary Department of Defense capabilities, capacities, and forward posture required. This new strategy should be adequately resourced, or it will be destined for irrelevance. This collaborative article offers expert advice from Thomas Spoehr of the Heritage Foundation, Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Bryan Clark of Hudson Institute, and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Read the article here. <[link removed]>
Cybersecurity: Policymakers Need a Consistent Means to Assess Capabilities
A U.S. Cyber Mission Force should be adequately supported. Budgets and manpower levels for U.S. Cyber Command should meet its operational demands. Force structure assessments should be done regularly to ensure its forces are being used to maximum efficiency. Manpower should be adequately trained to complete its missions, and talent should be carefully cultivated and retained. Training should be standardized to foster consistent skills and practices across the services, and policymakers should actively question whether the force is adequately trained. Building a competent force also requires ensuring that its technology is always cutting edge. Strengthening public–private partnerships will enable the Cyber Command to benefit from the developments made in the private sector.
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The United States faces a vast cybersecurity landscape with constantly evolving threats; a robust and capable Cyber Mission Force is a national security imperative.
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The cost of under resourcing U.S. Cyber Command could mean failing to deter a catastrophic cyberattack.
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The Department of Defense and Congress need to ensure budgets and manpower levels meet U.S. Cyber Command’s operational demands.
Read the full report. <[link removed]>
Dangerous Nuclear Policy Idea No. 4: Defunding the Nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile
In response to Russia’s and China’s advancing regional, non-strategic nuclear capabilities, the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review recommended restoring the sea-launched cruise missile-nuclear (SLCM-N), which the Department of Defense envisions deploying on destroyers or attack submarines. The United States deployed an SLCM-N called the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile-Nuclear during the Cold War but has since retired the capability. The SLCM-N would provide a regionally present, sea-based, survivable option to fill a gap in America’s nuclear deterrence capabilities and allied assurance commitments. Given the rising threat, the Biden Administration should continue to pursue the SLCM-N, and Congress should provide the necessary funding for the SLCM-N in FY 2022 and future years.
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The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review recommended restoring the sea-launched cruise missile-nuclear (SLCM-N) in light of Russia’s and China’s growing nuclear forces.
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Although the Biden Administration requested funding for SLCM-N research and development and for an accompanying warhead, its fate is ultimately uncertain.
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The U.S. must respond to the drastic change in nuclear threat, and the modest addition of the SLCM-N would fill a critical gap in nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Read the full report. <[link removed]>
U.S. Over-the-Horizon Capability for Afghanistan
President Biden and his Administration’s spokesmen state that the U.S. will rely on an “over-the-horizon” (OTH) capability to identify threats and “act quickly and decisively if needed.” OTH capabilities can readily service intelligence collection and logistical resupply, but offensive capabilities rely on the ability to find and then strike targets before they move. OTH operations are framed by regional access, assets, their capabilities, and their limitations. With the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, U.S. OTH capabilities are very limited, and non-clandestine operations will likely rely on satellites, U-2s, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and strategic airlift platforms for the foreseeable future.
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The over-the-horizon capability for U.S. assets to identify and strike threats quickly in Afghanistan is limited, constrained primarily by airspace access issues.
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Kill chain success, from threat identification to target engagement, will be hampered by the distances and transient times required of all weapons systems.
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Optical intelligence collection by satellites and the U-2 will be hampered by regional weather, as will all aspects of MQ-9, fighter, and bomber employment.
Read the full report. <[link removed]>
U.S. Coast Guard: Three Priorities for FY 2022
The U.S. Coast Guard is a critical part of the U.S. national security apparatus and is becoming increasingly involved in broader global competition. America needs to resource it adequately so it can play its role abroad and reduce its risk in its core mission areas of search and rescue, law enforcement, and defense readiness. Updating the Program of Record, acquiring a 12th National Security Cutter (NSC), providing the necessary resources to maintain readiness, and using a block buy strategy for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program will help the Coast Guard to meet its growing demands.
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Responsible for a wide variety of missions like search and rescue, law enforcement, and defense readiness, the U.S. Coast Guard is critical to national security.
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Increasing demands on the USCG, especially in the Indo–Pacific and Arctic, place strain on a small budget and fleet already in need of modernization.
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The FY2022 budget process gives Congress an opportunity to identify and meet the fleet’s needs, find savings for taxpayers, and improve the USCG’s readiness.
Read the full report. <[link removed]>
Further Reading:
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Afghan Evacuation and Haiti Disaster Show, a Balanced U.S. Fleet Is the Best Option <[link removed]> by Brent Sadler offers a naval perspective on recent global events.
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Failing To Take China At Its Word Will Mean More Global Catastrophes The United States Can’t Afford <[link removed]> by Robert Wilkie highlights the importance of a strong U.S. Navy in countering China.
- Critical Race Theory Will Destroy the Fabric of Our Military <[link removed]> by JV Venable explains how CRT directly undermines elements of military culture that make for a stronger force.
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